Swift Transportation Company, Inc. - Phoenix, Az.

You may be right about a freeze in Fl... I just imagine that he'll be up north or somewhere. Which is scary enough! Can ANYONE explain to me why when he's done with his little schooling, that he would be sent down to Orlando to actually take his test which he has to pay for? 2 n 2 just isn't addin' up here! Like I said he's already passed his written, and just needs to get a truck to take the driving part in. The downfall to that is no one will hire him without at least 6 mo. experience. BUMMER! I certainly appreciate all of you helping with the answers here!

 

SheilaMae. Is your son going to a Swift School? The reason I ask is becouse I'm set to go next week I'm also from FL but I'm going to Tenn for the school I don't think they have a school in Alabama. Swift is hiring a few drivers in Florida from what I know. They also have a reinburstment program if you go to another school. Hope this helps. Best of luck.

 

I can provide a little update here with regard to recruiting / schooling / truck availability. Most of the posters here know the story. short form: completed 6 weeks with van mentor, passed written and road finals, met with DM who advised I was 87th in line for a truck and it could be months. (MONTHS).(this was on Christmas eve morning). Absolutely no indication prior to this. What a shocker. At this point I had been released to "solo" and they began taking my weekly loan payments out of my account (first paycheck would begin in the negative because of these payments). Previously, I had been told these payments would not begin until I was in my own truck.

I spoke with one of the "higher-ups" in PHX who said he could put me onto a flatbed for two weeks with a mentor if I wanted. He also said he had 4-5 trucks available (flatbeds) and could get me right into my own. Not really excited about flatbed (bad back) but at least it was cash. Will be coming off that truck this weekend (provided there's freight which will give us a load back). I called him yesterday to remind him I would be completing the two weeks this weekend and asked about a truck. "none available". In fact, I was told 280 trucks were pulled out of service last Wednesday.

I then called my transitional DM (first guy I spoke with) who told me I was now 86th.

Like all of you, all I want is the job I paid for and to drive. IMHO I don't believe that is going to happen with Swift, unfortunately.

There are jobs out there, but they want experience. I did find one and it was offered to me. Seems like a decent company. Will complete the two weeks on the flatbed, get paid everything due me, ask one more time about truck availability and if there's no Swift truck for me I will make the change, student loan comittment or not. As far as I'm concerned, they would have breached the contract.

In any event, let's try to keep things as positive as possible. Take very load headed your way and do the job at your best and keep it safe.

 

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Hi Sheila,

I too read about SWIFT on this site and was nervous about going to SWIFT because of all the negative stuff on here. I think there is so much negative because SWIFT is so big. Sure I'll get flack for this e-mail but here it goes.

I am currently in the SWIFT program at the Phoenix, AZ location.

This is my experience.

I can honestly say that my instructors are top notch. I won't list their backgrounds but they all have lot's of experience. SAFETY is a priority...you get lots of time to drive, study the classroom stuff ETC. I am doing the over the road stuff this week and really like my instructor. I don't know how the training could be any better with the time limitations involved. The training is almost like a mini boot camp (EASY bootcamp)...what I mean is"do you show up on time, do you spend more time on smoke break or practicing on the range do you listen and act professional, etc. If you act like a dirt bag...these guys don't want you driving for SWIFT. My experience is you get what you put into it.

As far as the pay is concerned...I would ask what other company is going to pay for your school and if you get hired you've got full benefits, 401k and a match.

I am concerned about loads when I complete the class (if I get hired) but I don't blame SWIFT the economy stinks so there is less merchandise to move. I think you have a better shot at getting loads if you team or do flatbeds. If you go to the local Trucking school here it's 9k. SWIFT pays for the school if you drive for a year.

My SWIFT experience has been positive!

Good Luck.

 

I too had no issues wuth the intructors with the exception of one who should not have been there. And I also agree with the comment that one gets what one puts into it. That was very evident while I was there.
With regard to getting "hired" - The deal is if you receive your CDL and satisfactorily complete the six weeks with a mentor (when you get one as there has been some time waiting for them) you are then an employee of Swift. Thus the pay while out with the mentor and the payback of you loan through payroll dedcution.

Just FYI - It's a TWO year period with Swift before the loan is fully reimbursed, not one.

I would say my experience with Swift, during the training, was positive as well. It was when I was supposed to get a truck that the lies all came to the surface, including the confirmation I had in writing from my recruiter that my gas to and from the classroom would be reimbursed. (I commuted each day, not staying in the motel). Even with the confirmation in writing as well as on their website (Phoenix Student Closing Form - first line), they renegged.

I have big problem with people/companies not living up to promises.

All I can say is, keep your hopes and expecations low and your options wide open. If I don't have a truck within a week I will be accepting an offered position with another carrier.....loan or no loan. I must earn a living.

 

I agree with you 100% Orion. My husband used to work for Swift. If the recruiter's mouth is moving, he's lying. Just my two cents And my husband didn't even go to Swift for his driver training, he went local and got hired on. He was a trainer (mentor, ugh, my husband hated that term) and he quit doing it because most of those students he got couldn't drive a truck much less a private vehicle, mostly due to lack of behind the wheel training (and I don't mean behind the wheel as in "sitting on the bunk". We often wondered how they got their cdl's.

Sheilmae, Orion is right. Have him do it on his own, it will save him a ton of money. If you have drivers in your family and they work for a company, ask them to ask their company if they can train him. You never know it might just be doable.

On the other hand, if he must choose a trucking company school, Swift is a foot in the door for newbies. DO NOT expect much in the way of pay. Make sure he asks alot of questions and has the answers in writing before he signs on the dotted line. Swift is very big and there is a good likelihood he'll be waiting some time for a truck, it might depend on where he lives. Just make sure he goes in with both eyes wide open. Good luck to you and yours.

 

If you just recently requested the reimbursement it is quite possible that no one is lying but that is just one of the cost-saving moves that have recently been taken. We were all told that Swift reimbursed for showers and they did until recently. These measures are to help strengthen the bottom line in a soft freight world. No lies, just policy changes.

 

First, this was back in October. Second, On an individual instance, such as this, (not company policy-wide), when it was in writing via an email from the recruiter that I would receive the payment then the company should make good on it. Oh, did I say "recruiter"? (note commment from previous poster - if recruiter's lips are moving......). And, yes it is Swift we're talking about here.

I admire the attempt here, however some things are just black and white with no gray area. Re the shower comment......that was a terrible decision for all kinds of reasons. There were and are other line items which could have been addressed long before something like showers, Jerrys' helicopter fuel for example. JMHO.

 

I agree with you on the showers I think it was a bad move as well. When the company stated that the truck stops had fuel programs where if u purchase so many gallons of fuel you receive a free shower. That pissed me off. How in the world are you going to get a free shower when 85%-90% of the time you're fueling at the terminal. Watch the customers are going to be complaining about drivers hygiene and they may give us our showers back.

 

I just quit at swift the training program is good you woll get with a mentor and it wil still be good(if you get a good mentor)! Anyways then you get out on your own and you get stuck all the time, get sent to really crappy customers! Swift will pay you back for the shower you take at truck stops that what i did because i heard people were starting to get diseases and whatnot from some of there terminal showers! Not sure if it is true but i didnt risk it! They do have some NASTY terminals but also have some really nice ones as well! Just be ready when you drive for swift dont think your gonna make alot of money right away like they tell ya and just be careful on the loads you take!! Good Luck!-Punisher-